3-Picoline mediated self-assembly of M(II)-malonate complexes (M = Ni/Co/Mn/Mg/Zn/Cu) assisted by various weak forces involving lone pair-π, π-π, and anion···π-hole interactions.

Five M(II)-malonate complexes having a common formula (C(6)H(9)N(2))(4)[M(II)(C(3)H(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](PF(6))(2).(H(2)O)(2) (1-5) [where C(6)H(9)N(2) = protonated 3-picoline, M(II) = Ni/Co/Mn/Mg/Zn, C(3)H(4)O(4) = malonic acid, and PF(6)(-) = hexafluorophospahte], have been synthesized and their crystal structures have been determined. Complexes 1-5 were found to be isostructural and protonated 3-picoline has primarily mediated the self-assembly process.

On the importance of unprecedented lone pair-salt bridge interactions in Cu(II)-malonate-2-amino-5-chloropyridine-perchlorate ternary system.

A Cu(II)-malonate complex with formula {(C5H6N2Cl)12[Cu(1)(C3H2O4)2][Cu(2)(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2][Cu(4)(C3H2O4)2][Cu(3)(C3H2O4)2(H2O)2](ClO4)4}n (1) [C5H6N2Cl = protonated 2-amino-5-chloropyridine, C3H4O4 = malonic acid, ClO4(-) = perchlorate] has been synthesized from purely aqueous media simple by mixing the reactants in their stoichiometric ratio, and its crystal structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 1, copper(II) malonate units form infinite 1D polymeric chains, which are interlinked by hydrogen bonds to generate 2D sheets. These 2D sheets are joined side by side primarily by various hydrogen bonds to form a 3D structure.